GoodSmith Gregg & Unruh LLP
A Chicago-Based Boutique Law Firm Specializing in Business Controversies and Transactions

Kenneth D. Crews

Kenneth D. Crews

Partner

T: (312) 322-1961
F: (312) 322-0056

[email protected]
Education

The University of Chicago Law School
J.D., with high honors, 1993

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
B.S. in Economics, summa cum laude, 1988

Practice Areas

Commercial Transactions
Finance
Joint Ventures
Real Estate

Bar Admissions

Illinois

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Ken Crews is a transactional real estate attorney with over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate matters. His practice covers a wide range of transactions, including finance, acquisitions/dispositions, leasing, and joint ventures. Before joining GGU in 2002, he practiced at Latham & Watkins, where he was a partner from 2001-2002 and served as co-chair of the Chicago office’s Finance and Real Estate Department.

Ken’s real estate finance practice includes the representation of both borrowers and lenders in construction, mini-perm, permanent, mezzanine, and term loans secured by individual properties as well as by multi-state portfolios of properties. On the acquisition/disposition front, he represents both sellers and buyers through the negotiation, diligence, and closing phases of purchases and sales of all types of property classes, including office, retail, hotel, and industrial. In leasing, Ken represents landlords and tenants in the negotiation of complex office, retail, and industrial leases and subleases. Ken also acts as lead counsel to members of joint ventures in the preparation and negotiation of joint venture agreements for the purpose of acquiring, developing, owning, and operating real estate intensive projects.

Ken is a 1988 summa cum laude graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. He received his law degree, with high honors, from the University of Chicago Law School in 1993, where he was a member of the law review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Representative Transactions

Financing
  • Construction financing for hotel and mixed-use properties (counsel to borrowers)
  • Syndicated and unsyndicated construction loans to real estate developers for development of office, industrial and multi-family residential properties (counsel to lender/agent)
  • Mezzanine financing for development of limited service hotel properties (counsel to borrower)
  • Multiple financings secured by 100+ store properties of national retail chain (counsel to lender)
  • Unsecured syndicated credit facilities to office and manufactured home REITs (counsel to agent)
  • Secured syndicated credit facilities to Chicago regional supermarket chain (counsel to borrower)
Acquisitions and Dispositions
  • Acquisition of 19 acre parcel and negotiation of development rights for data center
  • Acquisition and disposition of former industrial parcels in Chicago
  • Sale of entire Florida nursing home operations by owner/operator (52 facilities)
  • Sales of portfolios of service stations/convenience stores
  • Auction of approximately 600 service stations/convenience stores in Chapter 11 liquidation (counsel to seller)
  • Sales of various portfolios of nursing home properties
  • Acquisition of Chicago supermarket chain
  • Acquisitions of institutional pharmacy businesses and physical therapy clinics
Leasing
  • Lease of 55,000 s.f. office for corporate headquarters
  • Lease of 800,000 s.f. manufacturing and distribution facility
  • Sale/leaseback of 300,000 s.f., multi-site office, manufacturing, and distribution facility
  • Sale/leasebacks of limited service hotel properties
  • Office/retail lease and sublease transactions
Joint Ventures
  • LLC joint ventures for acquisition, development and ownership of hotel properties
  • LLC joint ventures and related licensing arrangements for operation of healthcare-related businesses